Nate Watson Named Finalist for Kareem Abdudl-Jabbar Award

It was announced today (February 4) that graduate student center Nate Watson (Portsmouth, Va.) has been named one of the Top 10 candidates for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its eighth year recognizes the top centers in men’s college basketball. A national committee of college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in November, which has now been narrowed to 10.

College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late February, the list will be cut to just 5. In March the five finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

For more information on the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #KareemAward on Twitter and Instagram. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live today, February 4. Fans can vote at http://www.hoophallawards.com/men/vote.php

The winner of the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Karl Malone Power Forward Award, in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include two-time winner Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).

Watson, who is averaging 13.6 points per game. He ranks first in the league in field goal percentage at 56.1 percent (119-212). In addition, Watson is second on the team in rebounding at 5.9 boards per game. For his career, he has scored 1,603 points and he has grabbed 668 rebounds. He ranks 14th all-time in scoring at Providence College.

The No. 15/15 Friars (19-2, 9-1) will return to action on Sunday, February 6 at Georgetown at 12:00 p.m. on FS1.

2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Candidates*

Walker Kessler Auburn

Adam Sonogo Connecticut

Mark Williams Duke

Drew Timme Gonzaga

Oscar Tsheibwe Kentucky

Hunter Dickinson Michigan

Armando Bacot North Carolina

Nate Watson Providence

Zach Edey Purdue

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2021-22 season*

-GO FRIARS!-